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Israel said a four-day Gaza truce and hostage release will not start until at least Friday, stalling a breakthrough deal to pause the brutal and bloody seven-week-old war in Gaza Strip.
National security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi indicated the release of at least 50 Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas was on track, but would not happen until Friday at the earliest.
"The contacts on the release of our hostages are advancing and continuing constantly," he said in a statement, reports AFP.
"The start of the release will take place according to the original agreement between the sides, and not before Friday."
It was not immediately clear what caused the delay, or whether it signalled a serious breakdown in implementation.
The delay is a hammer blow to families desperate to see their loved ones return home, and to two million-plus Gazans praying for an end to 47 days of war and destruction.
The complex and carefully choreographed deal saw Israel and Hamas militants agree a four-day truce, during which at least 50 hostages taken in the deadly October 7 attacks would be released.
For every 10 additional hostages released, there would be an extra day's "pause" in fighting, an Israeli government document said.
In turn, Israel would release at least 150 Palestinian women and children and allow more humanitarian aid into the coastal territory after weeks of bombardment, heavy fighting and a crippling siege.
The deal had been expected to come into force from Thursday, despite fierce opposition from some in Israel's hard-right government.
Hardline interior minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described the deal as a "historic mistake" that would embolden Hamas and risk the lives of Israeli troops.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
